on between the United
States of America and the said Provinces of Cuba and Puerto Rico."
Although this clause was by common consent omitted from the
substitutionary agreement of February 13, 1884 (now in force until
replaced by this convention being carried into effect), the obligation
to enter upon such a negotiation was deemed to continue. With the best
desire manifest on both sides to reach a common accord, the negotiation
has been necessarily protracted, owing to the complexity of the details
to be incorporated in order that the convention might respond to the
national policy of intercourse with the neighboring communities of the
American system, which is outlined in my late annual message to the
Congress in the following words:

The conditions of these treaties should be the free admission of such
merchandise as this country does not produce, in return for the
admission free or under a favored scheme of duties of our own products,
the benefits of such exchange to apply only to goods carried under the
flag of the parties to the contract; the removal on both sides from the
vessels so privileged of all tonnage dues and national imposts, so that
those vessels may ply unhindered between our ports and those of the
other contracting parties, though without infringing on the reserved
home coasting trade; the removal or reduction of burdens on the
exported products of those countries coming within the benefits of the
treaties, and the avoidance of the technical restrictions and penalties
by which our intercourse with those countries is at present hampered.

A perusal of the convention now submitted will suffice to show how fully
it carries out the policy of intercourse thus announced. I commend it to
you in the confident expectation that it will receive your sanction.

It does not seem necessary to my present purpose to enter into detailed
consideration of the many immediate and prospective advantages which
will flow from this convention to our productions and our shipping
interests.

CHESTER A. ARTHUR.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _Washington, December 10, 1884_.

_To the Senate and House of Representatives:_

With reference to the recommendations on the subject in my recent annual
message, I transmit herewith a report of the Secretary of State of the
9th instant, showing the necessity for immediate legislation for the
purpose of bringing the statutes of the United States into conformity
with t